Hi folks,
Yes…you read that right. Please try to bring some sort of a device to our next physics class that has the basic Angry Birds game on it. I know it's free on Google Play and I hope it's free on iTunes as well. We will be analyzing the birds for our next lab in class.
Happy New Year everyone!!! See you all next year.
Jim Mueller
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Friday, December 26, 2014
Physics update 12/17 and homework due 1/7
Hi folks,
I hope everyone is having a nice holiday break so far.
Last class we took a good long look at one of the more important laws in science, the law of conservation of momentum. We did a couple of rather mathy problems in class and then had fun crashing balls into other balls to see the law of conservation in action.
Homework is:
Read Chapter 7 pgs. 86 to 99
Review questions #'s 1 - 9 Pg. 100
Plug and Chug questions #'s 1 - 4 Pg 101
Extra credit possibility. 2 pts for each think and solve on pg 102 (Sorry, not much fun I'm afraid.)
Happy New Year everyone!!!!
I hope everyone is having a nice holiday break so far.
Last class we took a good long look at one of the more important laws in science, the law of conservation of momentum. We did a couple of rather mathy problems in class and then had fun crashing balls into other balls to see the law of conservation in action.
Homework is:
Read Chapter 7 pgs. 86 to 99
Review questions #'s 1 - 9 Pg. 100
Plug and Chug questions #'s 1 - 4 Pg 101
Extra credit possibility. 2 pts for each think and solve on pg 102 (Sorry, not much fun I'm afraid.)
Happy New Year everyone!!!!
Friday, December 19, 2014
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Clarification on physics photography assignment
Hi folks,
Some folks have already turned this in but there does seem to be some confusion on the picture assignment.
What I'm looking for is 5 pictures for Newton's first law, 5 pictures for Newtons 2nd and 5 pictures for Newton's 3rd law. 15 pictures in all.
If you would rather do videos, you can do 3 of each, so 9 videos.
I want the pictures to be something you just observe around you. An example of something that happens regularly that just happens to be a great example of one of Newton's Laws. You can set up the photo if you want to, but just give me examples of things that happen normally.
Also, with each picture, I'd like an example for why that picture is a good example of that law. I would like each picture or video to be a different example. So, in other words, you can't just use a sleeping cat over and over again. :)
The goal of this assignment is to help you guys see that Newton's laws are around you constantly if you keep your eyes open.
You can email me the pics and explanations or print them and bring them to class as well.
Some folks have already turned this in but there does seem to be some confusion on the picture assignment.
What I'm looking for is 5 pictures for Newton's first law, 5 pictures for Newtons 2nd and 5 pictures for Newton's 3rd law. 15 pictures in all.
If you would rather do videos, you can do 3 of each, so 9 videos.
I want the pictures to be something you just observe around you. An example of something that happens regularly that just happens to be a great example of one of Newton's Laws. You can set up the photo if you want to, but just give me examples of things that happen normally.
Also, with each picture, I'd like an example for why that picture is a good example of that law. I would like each picture or video to be a different example. So, in other words, you can't just use a sleeping cat over and over again. :)
The goal of this assignment is to help you guys see that Newton's laws are around you constantly if you keep your eyes open.
You can email me the pics and explanations or print them and bring them to class as well.
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
12/10 Physics update and homework due 12/17
Hi folks,
Today we discussed the concept of momentum. We just scratched the surface today and will be getting into it in much greater detail next week. We also did a lab to see the effect of mass and velocity on momentum.
Homework for this week is to do the following questions.
1. What is momentum?
2. Why is momentum different from inertia?
3. Which has a greater mass, a heavy truck at rest or a moving skateboard?
4. Which has more momentum, a heavy truck at rest or a moving skateboard?
5. In the lab during the last class, what did you have to do to figure out the velocity of the ball at the end of the ramp?
6. What would have changed about the experiment if you increased the amount of mass of the car instead of the ball?
7. What did changing the slope of the ramp have to do with momentum?
8. If you rolled a ball down the ramp that didn't move the car, what was greater, the momentum of the ball or the inertia of the car?
9. Draw an acceleration graph of the ball on the smaller slope (assume it reaches a terminal velocity).
10. Draw a free body diagram (force diagram) of the car after the ball has struck it but before it has stopped. (Be careful, describe the forces not the motion.)
11. Describe what Newton's 3rd law has to do with the car/ball collision.
12. Describe how Newton's 2nd law applies to the car/ball collision.
13. Describe how Newton's 1st law applies to the car/ball collision.
14. If you had appropriate equipment, how could you go about measuring and calculating the acceleration of the car?
Today we discussed the concept of momentum. We just scratched the surface today and will be getting into it in much greater detail next week. We also did a lab to see the effect of mass and velocity on momentum.
Homework for this week is to do the following questions.
1. What is momentum?
2. Why is momentum different from inertia?
3. Which has a greater mass, a heavy truck at rest or a moving skateboard?
4. Which has more momentum, a heavy truck at rest or a moving skateboard?
5. In the lab during the last class, what did you have to do to figure out the velocity of the ball at the end of the ramp?
6. What would have changed about the experiment if you increased the amount of mass of the car instead of the ball?
7. What did changing the slope of the ramp have to do with momentum?
8. If you rolled a ball down the ramp that didn't move the car, what was greater, the momentum of the ball or the inertia of the car?
9. Draw an acceleration graph of the ball on the smaller slope (assume it reaches a terminal velocity).
10. Draw a free body diagram (force diagram) of the car after the ball has struck it but before it has stopped. (Be careful, describe the forces not the motion.)
11. Describe what Newton's 3rd law has to do with the car/ball collision.
12. Describe how Newton's 2nd law applies to the car/ball collision.
13. Describe how Newton's 1st law applies to the car/ball collision.
14. If you had appropriate equipment, how could you go about measuring and calculating the acceleration of the car?
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
12/3 Physics update and homework due 12/10
Hi folks,
Today we took a bit of an overview of all of Newton's three laws using a segment from at Magic School Bus video. The video has the kids frolicking on a frictionless baseball field and this allows the students to see Newton's laws in a non-friction environment.
We also did a lab using matchbox cars and magnets to illustrate some of the finer points of Newton's 3rd Law.
Homework for this week is to do Think and Explain questions 1-13 on pages 84 and 85 of the book.
Also, take 5 photo examples of each of the 3 Newton's laws. So 15 in all. Or, if you wish, make 3 videos of each law, so 9 in all. Feel free to email them to me, post them to YouTube or bring them to me somehow next week.
Today we took a bit of an overview of all of Newton's three laws using a segment from at Magic School Bus video. The video has the kids frolicking on a frictionless baseball field and this allows the students to see Newton's laws in a non-friction environment.
We also did a lab using matchbox cars and magnets to illustrate some of the finer points of Newton's 3rd Law.
Homework for this week is to do Think and Explain questions 1-13 on pages 84 and 85 of the book.
Also, take 5 photo examples of each of the 3 Newton's laws. So 15 in all. Or, if you wish, make 3 videos of each law, so 9 in all. Feel free to email them to me, post them to YouTube or bring them to me somehow next week.
Sunday, November 23, 2014
11/19 Physics class and homework due 12/3
Hi folks,
This week we took a bit more of a look at Newton's Second Law and we also explored Newton's 3rd Law as well.
Remember NO CLASS this Wednesday due to Thanksgiving. Be sure to give thanks to gravity for keeping your turkey on the table.
Homework due 12/3 is :
Read pgs. 74 - 82
Do Review Questions #'s 1 - 18
This week we took a bit more of a look at Newton's Second Law and we also explored Newton's 3rd Law as well.
Remember NO CLASS this Wednesday due to Thanksgiving. Be sure to give thanks to gravity for keeping your turkey on the table.
Homework due 12/3 is :
Read pgs. 74 - 82
Do Review Questions #'s 1 - 18
Friday, November 21, 2014
Friday, November 14, 2014
Web Site for Home Work
Hi folks,
Sorry, I forgot to include the website for this week's assignment. Here it is.
Thursday, November 13, 2014
11/12 physics update and homework due 11/19
Hi folks,
Today I introduced the concept of force diagrams also known as free body diagrams. We worked on them a bit in class and this week's homework will ask you to work on them a bit more. We also did a fairly complex lab asking the students to use their formulas and math skills to determine several aspects of a catapult.
For homework this week:
Finish the calculations in the lab if you haven't already done so in class.
Do the enclosed .pdf. Answers for the force diagrams are enclosed so you can check yourself.
Today I introduced the concept of force diagrams also known as free body diagrams. We worked on them a bit in class and this week's homework will ask you to work on them a bit more. We also did a fairly complex lab asking the students to use their formulas and math skills to determine several aspects of a catapult.
For homework this week:
Finish the calculations in the lab if you haven't already done so in class.
Do the enclosed .pdf. Answers for the force diagrams are enclosed so you can check yourself.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Friday, October 31, 2014
Thursday, October 30, 2014
10/29 Physics class update and homework due 11/7
Hi folks,
Today we began our venture into Newton's Laws. To be honest, everything we've been working with so far has led up to this. Velocity, acceleration, vectors, linear motion has all been leading up to us gaining a strong understanding of Newton's three laws of motion. Today we began with Newton's first law, an object in motion stays in motion and an object at rest stays at rest unless a force acts against them.
Homework for this week is to:
Read pgs. 43-55
Review Questions pg. 56 & 57 #'s 1-20
Today we began our venture into Newton's Laws. To be honest, everything we've been working with so far has led up to this. Velocity, acceleration, vectors, linear motion has all been leading up to us gaining a strong understanding of Newton's three laws of motion. Today we began with Newton's first law, an object in motion stays in motion and an object at rest stays at rest unless a force acts against them.
Homework for this week is to:
Read pgs. 43-55
Review Questions pg. 56 & 57 #'s 1-20
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Request for physics class
Hi folks,
This week in class I'd like to use a simulation to demonstrate projectile motion. However, I need some assistance. I'd like to have at least 4 or 5 laptops running the simulation so that everyone can experiment with it. I can bring two but I'm wondering if any of you guys would be willing to bring a laptop in with the simulation downloaded onto it. It does need to be downloaded since I do not have internet access in the classroom.
Here is the link:http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/projectile-motion
Please let me know if you can do this and get the sim to run (I know some folks had an issue with this site in the past). If we can get enough laptops we'll do this, otherwise we will do a different lab.
See you all tomorrow!
Science Jim
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Physics update 10/22 and homework due 10/29
Hi folks,
Today we dove a bit deeper into the realm of 2 dimensional motion and I introduced vectors as we worked on understanding projectile motion.
Homework for this week is to:
Read pgs. 28 - 39 in the text book.
Do "Plug and Chug" questions on page 41 #'s 1-5
Do all 6 of the "Think and Solve" questions on page 42 of the Conceptual Physics book.
Calculate the instantaneous velocity of a falling ball for 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 seconds.
Calculate the distance a falling ball goes in 1,2,3,4, and 5 seconds.
Using the above calculations, create 3 graphs.
Distance vs. time for the falling ball
Velocity vs. time for the falling ball
Acceleration vs. time for the falling ball.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
10/15 Physics update and homework due 10/22
Hi folks,
Today we spent a bit more time on some more of the interesting aspects of gravity that I hadn't had a chance to cover yet. We also took a step forward into projectile motion and two dimensional motion. I introduced the first of several types of problems that we will be working with over the next few weeks.
Homework for next week is to do the following questions.
1. Whoops, you dropped your cell phone. Well…might as well do some physics.
a. If your cell phone dropped of a 10 m (30 ft) tall building how long will it take before it hits the ground?
b. What speed will your cell phone hit the ground at?
c. What average speed will your cell phone have during the fall?
d. What is the acceleration for your cell phone?
e. Create a velocity vs. time graph for your cell phone.
f. Create an acceleration vs. time graph for your cell phone.
2. Grrr, it turns out you didn't just drop the phone, you really wanted to get rid of it to get another one. But, the darn thing didn't break. So, if at first you don't succeed…
a. You climb to the top of a 27 m water tower (don't do this at home) and you're about to drop it again, but you notice that there several people wandering around down below. Curses! However, there's a pond about 60 m away. Can you throw that far? What horizontal speed would you have to throw the phone at to get it into the pond?
b. What vertical speed will the phone be traveling at when it hits the pond?
c. What vertical acceleration does the phone have after you throw it?
d. What horizontal acceleration does the phone have after you throw it?
e. Draw a graph that represents the vertical acceleration.
f. Draw a graph that represents the horizontal acceleration.
g. Draw a graph that represents the vertical speed.
h. Draw a graph that represents the horizontal speed.
Today we spent a bit more time on some more of the interesting aspects of gravity that I hadn't had a chance to cover yet. We also took a step forward into projectile motion and two dimensional motion. I introduced the first of several types of problems that we will be working with over the next few weeks.
Homework for next week is to do the following questions.
1. Whoops, you dropped your cell phone. Well…might as well do some physics.
a. If your cell phone dropped of a 10 m (30 ft) tall building how long will it take before it hits the ground?
b. What speed will your cell phone hit the ground at?
c. What average speed will your cell phone have during the fall?
d. What is the acceleration for your cell phone?
e. Create a velocity vs. time graph for your cell phone.
f. Create an acceleration vs. time graph for your cell phone.
2. Grrr, it turns out you didn't just drop the phone, you really wanted to get rid of it to get another one. But, the darn thing didn't break. So, if at first you don't succeed…
a. You climb to the top of a 27 m water tower (don't do this at home) and you're about to drop it again, but you notice that there several people wandering around down below. Curses! However, there's a pond about 60 m away. Can you throw that far? What horizontal speed would you have to throw the phone at to get it into the pond?
b. What vertical speed will the phone be traveling at when it hits the pond?
c. What vertical acceleration does the phone have after you throw it?
d. What horizontal acceleration does the phone have after you throw it?
e. Draw a graph that represents the vertical acceleration.
f. Draw a graph that represents the horizontal acceleration.
g. Draw a graph that represents the vertical speed.
h. Draw a graph that represents the horizontal speed.
Friday, October 10, 2014
Thursday, October 9, 2014
10/8 Physics update and homework due 10/15
Hi folks,
Today we spent a bunch more time on that tricky acceleration vs. velocity thing. Those graphs can be quite challenging but I think we're getting closer. We also got introduced to two new formulas using the gravitational constant to figure out velocity and distance.
Your homework this week is to:
Using the time of your horizontal throw and the formulas I gave you in class, find out how fast you threw and how high you threw. Remember to 1/2 your time.
Also, do the following .pdf. Let me know if you have questions, this is just the type of thing you may see on an upcoming quiz… :)
Today we spent a bunch more time on that tricky acceleration vs. velocity thing. Those graphs can be quite challenging but I think we're getting closer. We also got introduced to two new formulas using the gravitational constant to figure out velocity and distance.
Your homework this week is to:
Using the time of your horizontal throw and the formulas I gave you in class, find out how fast you threw and how high you threw. Remember to 1/2 your time.
Also, do the following .pdf. Let me know if you have questions, this is just the type of thing you may see on an upcoming quiz… :)
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
10/2 Physics update and homework due 10/9
Hi folks,
Today we took a look at gravity and many of the very strange aspects of it. We'll spend more time on gravity next week and introduce some formulas into the mix.
Homework for this week is to:
Read Conceptual Physics pgs. 168 - 177
Do the Think and Explain questions on pg. 27 #'s 1-8
Do the Plug and Chug problems on Pgs 26 and 27 #'s 1-6
Today we took a look at gravity and many of the very strange aspects of it. We'll spend more time on gravity next week and introduce some formulas into the mix.
Homework for this week is to:
Read Conceptual Physics pgs. 168 - 177
Do the Think and Explain questions on pg. 27 #'s 1-8
Do the Plug and Chug problems on Pgs 26 and 27 #'s 1-6
Thursday, September 25, 2014
9/24 physics update and homework due 10/1
Hi folks,
Today we took a look at velocity, distance and acceleration graphs in order to get a better handle on reading graphs and understanding what they are really telling us.
For homework this week, I want you all to spend some time with this simulation I've also included a .pdf that I would like you to fill out using the simulation.
Today we took a look at velocity, distance and acceleration graphs in order to get a better handle on reading graphs and understanding what they are really telling us.
For homework this week, I want you all to spend some time with this simulation I've also included a .pdf that I would like you to fill out using the simulation.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
9/17 Physics update and homework due 9/24
Hi folks,
Today we began our study on motion by taking a look at how motion is relative. We then explored two ways of measuring motion, velocity and acceleration. We will be spending quite a bit of time on acceleration in the coming weeks as it is key to much of Newton's Laws.
Homework for this week is:
Graph Data from Ramp Experiment and answer the following questions.
1. At what point on the ramp did the ball have the highest speed?
2. What would you estimate the speed of the ball to be if the ramp was long enough to allow the ball to travel for one more second.
3. What was the average speed of the ball for the entire ramp?
4. When was acceleration greatest or was it constant?
5. If it wasn't constant….why not?
6. What was the average acceleration of the ball for the entire ramp?
7. What would the acceleration be if the ramp was long enough to allow the ball to travel for one more second. (Estimate this using your graph.)
AND
Read 10 - 16 and 21-23 in your Conceptual Physics text
Do Review Questions 1- 14
For Extra Credit do any one of the 3 activities on pg. 26
Thursday, September 11, 2014
9/10 Physics update
Hi everyone,
It's great to get started! Looks like we should have a good group of folks and an excellent class.
Today we took some time to give a brief overview about what science is, what does it mean, and how does it work.
Never Stop Wondering
"Science Jim" Mueller
(919) 338-6142
A Fun Approach to Serious Physics!
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